Impromptu speaking ("off-the-cuff" speaking) is a talk for which a speaker has done no formal preparation. He/She stands up, selects a subject and begins within a few seconds. The ideas of the speaker are unrehearsed and unprepared.

You may say to yourself, "If I can't prepare and get organized, the speech will be awful! What's the purpose of doing this???"

Impromptu speaking helps us experience these things:
  • challenges us to speak as we think so that it sounds fluent
  • strengthens strategies for dealing with the need to speak on the spur of the moment
  • practices organizing ideas quickly for clear communication
  • develops composure for speaking in a challenging setting
  • helps us gain confidence each time we speak in this manner and improve




So let's try it out! Using the information from your Self-Introduction worksheet, decide on something you can tell the whole class about yourself. You will either be selected to speak about (1) where you were born/your family; (2) clubs, organizations, sports, activities, hobbies, interests and how long you've been involved; (3) travel experiences, special events, or future plans; (4) your biggest pet peeve or funniest APPROPRIATE memory; (5) characteristics and behaviors that make you unique with an example of it. The topic will be randomly chosen and you will have 2 minutes to think about what you would like to say before you try to speak for 1 minute.

Your suggested goals for this speech:
  1. Stand still and face your audience
  2. Project your voice
  3. Use complete sentences without verbal pauses ("ah", "um", "...and...", etc.)
  4. Go for 1 minute mark or more!!!